Classroom Organization

The Foundation of Classroom Management

Best Behavior (Sprague & Golly, 2013)

Helpful Thoughts

• Change your behavior first• Negative behavior is attention seeking behavior• Teach students what you want• Build caring and respectful relationships first• Catch students doing the right thing• Reward in a predictable way that includes surprises

Best Behavior (Sprague & Golly, 2004)

Remember, symptoms do not necessarily mean the same thing for

everyone…

Effective Classroom Management

1. Explicitly teach your expectations• Assume students do not know what to do.• Shape behavior with positive feedback until behavior is automatic.

2. Establish a consistent classroom structure• What behavior do you want to see in all aspects of your classroom?• What behavior do you want to hear?• How can you incorporate respect and emerging independence?

Best Behavior (Sprague & Golly, 2004)

Best Behavior (Sprague & Golly, 2012)

Building Blocks ofClassroom Management

Before School Starts: Design Your Classroom

Monitor Students. No

students behind book cases or

dividers.

Gain physical access to

students. Walk around and

through aisles.

Decide seating arrangements,

placing high-need and low-

performing students within

your reach.

Place your desk so that it is not

accessible to students.

Best Behavior (Sprague & Golly, 2004)

List 5 or more critical features of classroom design needed before school starts.

Create easy to remember classroom expectations and link to school-wide rules.

What are 2 classroom management activities to do on the first day of school?

What is your strategy to handle 2 or 3 students consistently disrupting your class?

How will you keep all students on task during independent work?

Consider the following preparingfor learning activities

Best Behavior (Sprague & Golly, 2004)